Parachute



. CASTAGNE: PARACHUTE Filed Feb. 21, 1928 May 6, 1930.

2 Sheets-Sheet l C.' H. CASTAGNE PARACHUTE -May 6, 1930 Filed Feb. 121, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ing Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLES H.

CAISTAGNE, OIF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS PARACHUTE `.Application led `February 21, 1928. Serial No. 256,001.

. My invention relates to parachutes in the .aviation art', and more particularly to lsuch l other position.

Another object of the invention is to incorporate in the novel garment, a balloon extension assuring the confinement of a compartively large amount of air for the adequate'support of the wearer.

A final, but nevertheless important object of the invention is to 'construct the novel garment of materials readily adapted to be col-` lapsed and compactly assembled for wear while the garment is not used as a parachute. With the above objects' in' view and any others that may suggest themeslves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of the novel garment as in use, and partly broken away;

Fig. 2 is a medial vertical section of the lower portion of the garment as it is worn;

-Fig. 3 is a similar section, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Fig. 4 is a' rear elevation of the lower portion of the arment. e

It i-s a famlliar fact that in the aviation art great skill must be used in the handling of a parachute, the Aposition of the `same and the manner of its use being matters of imperative importance in the consideration of safety. Frequently, in spite of adherence to prescribed rules, a mishap occurs in the handling use of the conventional parachute whereby e same fails to open or opens improperly, ncking a unavoidable. It has been .and upwardl which my intention to eliminate the great danger now involved in the handling and use of present day parachutes by-providing a combined garment and parachute which accomplishes Jhei-,objects above outlined to the fullest ex- Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes the' main portion of the arment, which is on the order of a typical jac et, suitably buttoned at 11'or otherwise secured upon the body of the wearer. vThe jacket 10 is extended laterally withl sleeve sectionsi 12,

with a'neck section 13 which expands to orm a balloon 14. While the jacket and its sleeves are made of heavy waterproof duck or other material suitable for strength, the balloon 14 is made of a special silk used for the particular purpose, and permits the balloon to hold air when lled. f 4

The rear of the neck portion 13 is downwardly extended alon the back of the jacket in tubular form, asin icated at 15, this tubular section terminating opposite the hips -of the wearer and in open form. The tubular section is extended laterally with wings 16, which are spaced backwardly from the jacket to form channels of communication with the balloon neck 13, as clearly denoted by arrows in Figure 3. The wings 16 -may be suitably reinforced,` join with the sleeves at 16, and are secured at the bottom by straps 17 wrapped aroundthe legs of the wearer.

The balloon is formed with a larin hood portion 18 of a circular'form, which w en in the shape shown in Figure 1, indicates that it is held in shape by stays 19 extended from the body of the balloon. The h ood section is prevented from collapsing in an outward direction by guy cords 2O from the lower portion of the balloon.

The .back of the garment is provided with a pocket 21 which is open at the to and may be further opened by a zipper-li e closure ed by the soon,

may occupy the seat of the pilot or of a passenger without undue discomfort, since the bulk of the garment will be packed in the pocket 21, but the wings 16 showing prominently. Since these Wings are also of duck or other limp fabric, the wearers ainis will be free for any necessary movement; and,

of course, his leg movements will not be impaired in any manner. In case it is necessary for the wearer to use the garment for parachute purposes, he need but open the pocket 21 and withdraw the balloon and hood to flow loosely behind liim. He may then drop or leap into the air, in which event the latter will probably first catch the pocket presenthood 18. This will cause the balloon to be raised by said pocket, drawing upon the lower part of the garment in a direction to right the same and its contents. At this juncture, the air will begin to lill the balloon from the space behind the wearer,

both at the center and inside of the wings 16, so that the further the descent the fuller the balloon will become of air, so that it will with the cooperation of the hood 18, present a considerable resistance to the descent, and so break the fall of the subject as he approaches the ground. The above actions are readily intended to occur very rapidly, so that the garment will perform its lifesaving function within a short fall. While I have experimented with the garment on a smaller scale to determine its susceptibility to conditions of the fall, it will be obvious' that proportions and sizes will depend upon tlie actual conditions apt to be met by a garment supporting a person 0f average size and weight. However, the design of the novel garment is peculiar in the sense that the wearer will not be subjected to strains or painful positions on the descent. The wings 16 act as a brace to prevent the sleeves 12 from being drawn upwardly beyond the horizontal position shown, so that there will not be a tendency for the wearers arms to be wrenched upwardly. The garment is designed to form a comfortable support for the wearer, yet to be of aicharacter simulating a coat or jacket, which enables one to easily ut it on or take it off. Further, it will be noted that the novel garment is made up of few and simple parts, and that there are not clasps or speciaLfastening devices to be attended to. It is significant that once that garment is put on and the wearer takes his place as pilot or passenger without the apprehension of using a parachute, the present parachute is ready at a moments notice to function in case the emergency arises. In such an event, it is not necessary for the wearer to do more than loosen the balloon and hood as previously described, and he may jump or drop from any point and in any position without fear that he will-fall head-first `or sidewise; as previously explained, the

novel parachute is especially designed to right itself and its charge during the early course of its descent.

I claim 1. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, and an inflatable bag carried by the latter and extending above the wearer of the garment and having the openings thereof disposed at the back and sides of said jacket.

2. An aviation Garment comprising a jacket, and an inflatable bag carried by the latter extending above the same and the mouth of said bag opening downwardly at the back of said jacket.

3. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, and a bag carried thereby and extending above the same, said bag having an open mouth at the back of said jacket for selfinflation by movement in the air.

4. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, and a bag carried thereby extending above the same, said bag having an open mouth at the back and sides of said jacket for self-inflation by movement in the air, and assuming an inflated position above the jacket to support the same and the wearer in suspended position.

5. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached thereto and extending above the same, and an air baffle carried by the bag adjacent the sleeves of said jacket.

6. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attachedthereto and extending above the jacket, a skirt covering the top of the bag, and means to maintain the skirt spread from the bag to create an open pocket about the latter.

7. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached thereto and extending above the jacket, a skirt extending from the bag and covering the top thereof, and stays projected from the bag to the skirt to lend the latter a spread position.

8. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached thereto and extending above the jacket, a skirt extending inclinedly from the top of the bag and covering the same, and guy lines projected from points on the bag below the skirt in upward direction to the rim of the skirt to prevent the reversal of the latter.

9. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached to the back thereof, and a tubular extension of the bag down the back of the jacket.

10. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached to the back thereof, and a tubular extension of the bag down the back of the jacket, said extensions being open at the bottom to receive air inflation of the bag.

1 1. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached t0 the back for the thereof, and baille Webs between the sides of the jacket and the sleeves thereof.

12. An aviation garment 'comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached to the back i s thereof, and bale Webs between the sides of the jacket and the sleeves thereof, said bale Webs receding back of the shoulder regions to meet the back Wall of the bag and furnish an air inlet to the bag from the front of said Webs.

13. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached thereto and extended to meet the sleeves, and bottom braces for the latter comprising webs extended from the sides of the jacket to the sleeves.

14. An aviation garment comprising a jacket, an inflatable bag attached thereto and extended to meet the sleeves, bottom braces for the latter comprising webs extended from the sides of the jacket to the sleeves, and thigh-straps carried by the bottom sections of the Webs toV secure them to the' wearers body.

In testimony whereofI aix my signature.

' CHARLES H. CASTAGNE. 

